This family contains sequences expressed in eukaryotic organisms bearing high similarity to the WAPL conserved region of D. melanogaster wings apart-like protein. This protein is involved in the regulation of heterochromatin structure [1]. hWAPL (Swiss:Q7Z5K2), the human homologue, is found to play a role in the development of cervical carcinogenesis, and is thought to have similar functions to Drosophila wapl protein [2]. Malfunction of the hWAPL pathway is thought to activate an apoptotic pathway that consequently leads to cell death [2].

1: Genetic and molecular analysis of wings apart-like (wapl), a gene controlling heterochromatin organization in Drosophila melanogaster. Verni F, Gandhi R, Goldberg ML, Gatti M; Genetics 2000;154:1693-1710. PMID:10747063

2: Expression of a novel human gene, human wings apart-like (hWAPL), is associated with cervical carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Oikawa K, Ohbayashi T, Kiyono T, Nishi H, Isaka K, Umezawa A, Kuroda M, Mukai K; Cancer Res 2004;64:3545-3549. PMID:15150110